twitter account. what were they looking for? the american nurse and her daughter kidnapped in haiti released after nearly two weeks. was there a ransom the billion dollar mystery. who won the record mega millions jackpot? our nbc news exclusive, the mother/dauaughter duo o set to make history as virgrgin galactic takes a big leap in space tourism. and he was famous for his work with the band, bob dylan, and martin scorsese. remembering rock legend robbie robertson. take a load off fanny announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt good evening. it was paradise in flames in hawaii where incredibly fast-moving wildfires on the island of maui have claimed at least six lives overnight framing parts of the picturesque tourist destination against a hellish backdrop homes, businesses, and the historic town of lahaina destroyed. power and communications on the island crippled. residents and visitors urgently evacuated others literally running for their lives
hurricane raging on maui and the big island. at least six dead. the flames burning homes and forcing hundreds to evacuate. much of a popular tourist town destroyed. the coast guard rescuing people after they fled into the water. our team in hawaii. also tonight, just hours before president biden s visit to utah, the fbi fatally shooting a man there while serving a warrant after he allegedly threatened to kill the president. the images he posted online of guns and himself in a sniper suit holding a rifle. just revealed, the special counsel s secret search warrant for donald trump s twitter account. what were they looking for? the american nurse and her daughter kidnapped in haiti released after two weeks nearly. was there a ransom? the billion dollar mystery. who won the record mega millions jackpot? our r nbc news exclusive, the mother/d/daughter duo o set to make e history as virgin galactic takes a big leap in space tourism. and he was famous or his work with th
Grounded. quickly multiple fires erupted. historic sections of lahaina were swallowed by flames and engulfed in smoke. this is not a safe place to be on certain parts of maui. we have shelters that are overrun. reporter: calling the unfolding catastrophe unprecedented, state officials say some of maui is without power. roads are blocked. hotels are closing, and thousands of tourists and locals are trying to flee. our stuff is still at our hotel, so we are here at the airport at nigh no stuff. the firestorm came through and took everythiith it. reporter: but for those with nowhere to go or no way out, the extent of the damage is still unclear. local people have lost everything. they ve lost their house, they ve lost their animals, and it s devastating. reporter: tonight this is the misery in maui as a wildfire turns this tropical paradise into a hellish nightmare.
Reports from the maui county that about 2,000 over 2,000 people are at the shelters. that s not including the 2,00ople at the airport. these are mostly visitors waiting to fly back to their final destination and because they were evacuated early, they ended up spending the night at the airport. and maui obviously an attractive destination in good times. what is your message to travelers to the island right now? i issued an emergency proclamation a few hours ago encouraging people not to travel to maui, you know, whether it s visitors or residents, it s not a safe place for you to be. we have wildfires that are not completely contained. we have travel plans to maui, we ask that you postpone it or cancel it at this time. acting governor luke, thank you for taking time out during
A hurricane hundreds of miles away that initially kept firefighting helicopters on the ground. miguel almaguer has made his way to maui and has this late report. reporter: the apocalyptic scene in maui unfolded before sunrise. an island wildfire so explosive, flames poured into the desperate to plunge the ocean escape inferno. careful here. reporter: the coast guard quickly plucking roughly a dozen from the water as witnesses say the unstoppable blaze ripped across homes and took at least six lives. the smoke was just so thick, people were running around looking for refuge. it was the heat was unbearable. reporter: during the chaotic evacuation oh, my god. reporter: hospitals treating at least 20 burn victims quickly became overwhelmed. 911 service went down. cell coverage is out, and the national guard was ordered in to help. it really took us by surprise. reporter: as 70-mile-an-hour winds fanned the flames, the air attack was